1. Welcome to Norwell High School General Information Parents Should Know NHS CORE VALUES NHS CORE VALUES INTEGRITY LEARNING INTEGRITY LEARNING RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY

2. ADVISORY Students remain in same advisory group for four years. Freshman and sophomore groups are led by teachers and Peer Educators. ADVISORY Students remain in same advisory group for four years. Freshman and sophomore groups are led by teachers and Peer Educators. Freshmen will participate in Advisory Kickoff Day on October 7th. Freshmen will participate in Advisory Kickoff Day on October 7th. Advisory groups meet once each month in addition to the daily homeroom period.

3. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 4 yrs English 4 yrs English 4 yrs Math 4 yrs Math 4 yrs Social Studies ( US History ) 4 yrs Social Studies ( US History ) 4 yrs Science ( biology, chemistry, 4 yrs Science ( biology, chemistry, physics) physics) 3 yrs Foreign language 3 yrs Foreign language 4 semesters Unified Arts ( one in arts ) 4 semesters Unified Arts ( one in arts ) 2 semesters PE/Health 1 freshman yr 2 semesters PE/Health 1 freshman yr 1 sophomore yr 1 sophomore yr PE electives Jr and Sr year PE electives Jr and Sr year

4. ELECTIVES ART ART MUSIC MUSIC TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY PHYSICAL EDUCATION PHYSICAL EDUCATION PE/Health I,II PE/Health I,II PE electives PE electives

5. ACADEMICS LEVELS LEVELS LEVELS Advanced Placement AP Advanced Placement AP Honors H Honors H College Prep CP College Prep CP

6. ADVANCED PLACEMENT AP Exam required JUNIOR YEAR English Language English Language US History US History Chemistry Chemistry Biology ( soph) Biology ( soph) SENIOR YEAR English Literature English Literature European History European History Biology Biology Calculus Calculus Chemistry Chemistry Physics Physics Psychology Psychology Government Government French V French V Latin V Latin V Spanish V Spanish V Statistics Statistics Studio Art Studio Art

7. TEACHER ACCESSIBILITY Before School Before School Teacher Late Nights Teacher Late Nights Websites Websites Email Email Voice Mail Voice Mail

8. Parent Role in Homework Help organize- agenda, long term planning Help organize- agenda, long term planning Check assignments Check assignments Proofread essays Proofread essays Quiz students preparing for tests/quizzes Quiz students preparing for tests/quizzes Encourage students to review notes even if no homework assigned Encourage students to review notes even if no homework assigned

9. Using the X2 Parent Portal to track student progress Interim reports and report cards can be viewed on the parent portal. They will not be mailed. Email Kathy Lynch at kathleen.lynch@norwellschools.org with log-in questions. kathleen.lynch@norwellschools.org

10. HONOR ROLL HIGH HONORS No less than 5 A’s or A-’s in all courses receiving grades. No less than 5 A’s or A-’s in all courses receiving grades. No grade lower than a B- No grade lower than a B- HONOR ROLL B- or better in all courses receiving letter grades. B- or better in all courses receiving letter grades.

11. ELIGIBILITY Co Curricular Activities A student who fails 1 course in a term is ineligible for performances, interscholastic competitions, club sponsored field trips and positions of leadership. A student who fails 1 course in a term is ineligible for performances, interscholastic competitions, club sponsored field trips and positions of leadership. Students can practice with teams or ensembles but not perform in plays, concerts or games. Students can practice with teams or ensembles but not perform in plays, concerts or games. If midterm grades are passing in all subjects, eligibility is regained. If not, all participation must cease. If midterm grades are passing in all subjects, eligibility is regained. If not, all participation must cease. Students with two or more failures in a term forfeit all participation until midterm when all passing grades would regain eligibility. Students with two or more failures in a term forfeit all participation until midterm when all passing grades would regain eligibility.

12. Grade Point Average GPA AP Hon CP AP Hon CP A 4.25 4.0 3.75 A- 4.0 3.75 3.5 B+ 3.75 3.5 3.25 B 3.5 3.25 3.0 B- 3.25 3.0 2.75 C+ 3.0 2.75 2.5 C 2.75 2.5 2.25 C- 2.5 2.25 2.0 D+ 2.25 2.0 1.75 D 2.0 1.75 1.5 D- 1.75 1.5 1.25 F 0 0 0

13. National Honor Society Junior/Senior yr Junior/Senior yr 4 Criteria Scholarship Scholarship 3.5 GPA 3.5 GPA Leadership Leadership Service Service Character Character

14. ACTIVITIES - CLUBS AFS AFS Amnesty Intl Amnesty Intl Art Club Art Club Best Buddies Best Buddies Chess Club Chess Club GSA/Diversity GSA/Diversity Drama Drama Environment Club Environment Club French Club French Club Latin Club Latin Club Peer Education Peer Education Robotics Robotics JSA JSA Halyard Halyard International Club International Club Math Team Math Team Mock Trial Mock Trial Nat’l Honor Society Nat’l Honor Society Navigator Navigator Norwell Volunteer Corps Norwell Volunteer Corps Robotics Robotics Paintball club Paintball club Student Gov’t Student Gov’t Yearbook Yearbook

15. ATHLETICS - FALL Cheerleading Cheerleading Cross Country Cross Country Field Hockey Field Hockey Football Football Soccer Soccer Golf Golf

16. ATHLETICS - WINTER Basketball Basketball Cheerleading Cheerleading Gymnastics Gymnastics Hockey Hockey Track Track Wrestling Wrestling Skiing Skiing Swim/Dive Swim/Dive

17. Athletics - Spring Baseball Baseball Lacrosse Lacrosse Softball Softball Tennis Tennis Track Track

18. STANDARDIZED TESTING MCASPSAT SAT Subject Tests SAT Reasoning Test ACT AP Exams

19. MCAS MCAS Graduation Requirement Graduation Requirement ELA, Math, ( taken grade 10) ELA, Math, ( taken grade 10) Science ( Biology taken grade 9 ) Science ( Biology taken grade 9 )

20. PSAT PSAT Sophomore and/or Junior year Sophomore and/or Junior year Given at NHS Given at NHS Saturday, Oct. 15 Saturday, Oct. 15 Counselors informed classes and distributed practice booklets Counselors informed classes and distributed practice booklets Register by bringing $25 check payable to Norwell High School to guidance office Register by bringing $25 check payable to Norwell High School to guidance office

21. Testing Students with Disabilities IEP – ( Individual Educational Plan) IEP – ( Individual Educational Plan) 504 Accommodation Plan 504 Accommodation Plan Student may be eligible for accommodations on standardized testing – consult your special education liaison or your guidance counselor Student may be eligible for accommodations on standardized testing – consult your special education liaison or your guidance counselor Application and approval time required

22. SAT SUBJECT TESTS 1 hour tests in specific subject areas 1 hour tests in specific subject areas Required by some colleges Required by some colleges Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, World History, US History, Latin, French, Spanish, Literature World History, US History, Latin, French, Spanish, Literature Freshman options– Biology, World History Freshman options– Biology, World History Soph options– Chemistry, Math Soph options– Chemistry, Math Junior options– US History, Math, Literature, languages, sciences Junior options– US History, Math, Literature, languages, sciences

23. SAT REASONING / ACT Junior yr – Spring (March, May, June) Junior yr – Spring (March, May, June) Senior yr – Fall ( Oct., Nov., Dec. ) Senior yr – Fall ( Oct., Nov., Dec. ) Critical Rdg, Math, Writing Critical Rdg, Math, Writing Prep Courses available- Kaplan, Revolution, and others Prep Courses available- Kaplan, Revolution, and others Private tutoring Private tutoring ACT - Multiple choice test covering four skill areas: English, math, reading, and science with optional writing test. ACT - Multiple choice test covering four skill areas: English, math, reading, and science with optional writing test.

24. SENDING SAT SCORES Students have the option of sending SAT Reasoning tests from a particular test session or all scores Students have the option of sending SAT Reasoning tests from a particular test session or all scores For Subject tests, students have the option of sending the subject test scores of their choice For Subject tests, students have the option of sending the subject test scores of their choice

25. POST SECONDARY PLANNING COLLEGE COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL PREP SCHOOL MILITARY MILITARY EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT GAP YEAR GAP YEAR

26. GUIDANCE ROLE Group and individual meetings with students Group and individual meetings with students Class meetings Class meetings Freshmen - SAT Subject Tests Freshmen - SAT Subject Tests Sophomores - PSAT, Naviance Personality Inventory, SAT Subject Tests Sophomores - PSAT, Naviance Personality Inventory, SAT Subject Tests Juniors - PSAT, SAT, Naviance, College Planning Juniors - PSAT, SAT, Naviance, College Planning Seniors - College Planning, Fin Aid, Local Scholarships Seniors - College Planning, Fin Aid, Local Scholarships

27. GUIDANCE PROGRAMS IN SCHOOL College Mini Fairs College Mini Fairs Naviance – Naviance – Personality Inventory & College search Personality Inventory & College search Group information at Class meetings

28. GUIDANCE EVENING PROGRAMS 2011-2012 Sept- Senior Parents College Evening Sept- Senior Parents College Evening December 15 – Financial Aid December 15 – Financial Aid March -Juniors & Parents College Planning Evening March -Juniors & Parents College Planning Evening Spring – Grade 8 HS Programming Spring – Grade 8 HS Programming June 1- Senior Scholarship/Awards Night June 1- Senior Scholarship/Awards Night

29. REFERENCES Guidance Website www.norwellschools.org choose NHS and then under Student Services link to guidance. Guidance Website www.norwellschools.org choose NHS and then under Student Services link to guidance. www.norwellschools.org Call your student’s counselor with questions or for an appointment Call your student’s counselor with questions or for an appointment 781 659 8806 781 659 8806

30. Counselor Assignments for Freshmen Amy Greene Grade 9 A - F amy.greene@norwellschools.org Rebecca Prescott Grade 9 G - L rebecca.prescott@norwellschools.org Brenda Barrientos Grade 9 M - Z brenda.barrientos@norwellschools.org renda.barrientos@norwellschools.org